You’ve got questions, we’ve got a few answers. Here is a list of the most frequently asked questions and perhaps one or two you didn’t think to ask.
1. What is Duct Tape Marketing?
Well, that depends on whom you ask. For some it’s a book, blog or podcast. For others, it’s a methodology that taps the power of a systematic approach to marketing. And still for some, it is a network of skilled, independent marketing professionals licensed to install the Duct Tape Marketing System. Ultimately, however, it’s one of the world’s most trusted small business marketing brands.
2. What is Collaborative Consulting?
Collaborative consulting is our hybrid brand of consulting that takes into account the fact that small business owners need coaching, training, consulting, inspiration and the occasional kick in the pants in order to build a marketing system that returns predictable growth and results. We like to say, “we don’t do it for them, we do it with them.”
3. What do Duct Tape Consultants actually sell?
Our consultants install a marketing system by providing a step-by-step program or approach to creating and then implementing a marketing plan. Engagements can be in person, virtual or even in groups of businesses, but no matter the format, our consultants sell a result, with a set price, based on our proven methods and tactics.
4. Who makes a good Duct Tape Consultant?
We like to think that anyone that has built a business or sales territory can do what we teach, but there’s no denying that individuals with strong marketing backgrounds and existing customers and networks have an advantage when it comes to launching or remaking a marketing consulting practice. While it’s not necessary that you have a great deal of small business experience, it will help you more confidently convey the principles we adhere to.
5. What are the benefits of joining a network like this?
Many of our consultants tell us that they were very attracted to the brand, documented processes and marketing support that we offer, but every one of them states that the benefit they enjoy the most is access to a network of like-minded individuals all interested in helping small business owners and growing the brand they have invested in. Our consultants have access to hundreds of years of marketing experience that spans almost every industry imaginable and they like to share.
6. What kind of marketing support do I receive?
Our consultants receive a full suite of marketing materials to help them promote their Duct Tape Marketing programs. In addition to a presence on the main Duct Tape Marketing Consultant site, you will receive a fully developed personal web site, marketing kit, email newsletter, downloadable and brandable ebook and CD, marketing postcards, emails and flyers. While the Duct Tape brand does not guarantee to generate leads on behalf of individual consultants, we promote the consultant network heavily in online and in-person events, naturally generating leads for our consultants.
7. How much do I need to invest up front?
Starting a business generally comes with a variety of costs for things such as office, technology, professional fees and supplies. We charge a fee that can help dramatically lower your start up costs for things such as a website and marketing materials development as well as lower your risk through the association of a known brand, support and lead generation.
The Duct Tape Marketing Authorized Consultant licensee fee is broken down into a three-year payment schedule that is in line with how our consultants build their business.
- Year 1 – $620/month
- Year 2 – $620/month
- Year 3 – $308/month
- Year 4+ – monthly admin fee (currently $100/month)
8. What kind of training do I receive?
We believe that our training and support are unparalleled. Our consultants receive immediate support, learning our processes and starting or transitioning their business the day they join our ranks. Each consultant also attends a three day Intensive Training Session, receives five months of one-on-one mentoring and joins our twice-monthly online training sessions.
Our three day Intensive is as it sounds, a real immersion in our system and tools. Day 1 is about building our system, Day 2 is focused on building your practice and Day 3 is spent working on your specific practice.
Your one-on-one mentoring is structured as a series of ten meetings with a Master Duct Tape Marketing Consultant with the purpose of getting you up and going and generating your first engagements as quickly as possible.
9. What level of on-going training do I get?
We offer online training three times a month. Two of the session will focus on nuts and bolts, practice management and marketing and the third session each month is an update on news and new releases important to the network. In addition, we host an annual Gathering of the entire network each fall.
10. Who will be my target clients?
We find that our ideal customers are small business owners ready to go to the next level but trapped by not having a systematic approach to marketing. Our systems approach really resonates with businesses that are more established, profitable and used to investing in professional services and marketing. Many of our consultants become a bit of an outsourced marketing department for these firms.
11. How will I get leads and sales?
By far and away our most successful form of lead generation and conversion is speaking and presenting free workshops. We provide our consultants with a complete system for creating workshops to offer on their own or through interested groups and associations. Our system includes tips for generating engagements, a complete, proven presentation including audio, PowerPoint, and transcript and tools to help you turn attendees into paying clients.
12. What are the keys to my success as a marketing consultant?
They are the same keys to success in any business – keep learning and getting better at what you do, get out from behind the computer, network and build your reputation, deliver remarkable results for your clients and they’ll become your lead generation engine. As stated in the last point, speaking is a key for our consultants so possessing a desire to stand up and educate in front of groups of small business owners is an essential element as well.
13. Am I limited to a specific geographic territory?
Currently the need for what we offer is so immense we have no plans to limit our consultants by geography nor plans to flood the market with any consultant willing to pay our fee. Our total focus is on building a network of consultants that view helping small business owners as a very noble calling and that possess the ability and drive to produce results for their clients that are consistent with the Duct Tape brand.
Because our consultants are able to deliver their services virtually and online there is no need to limit where they work. While some prospective consultants wonder if a competitive consultant in their community would present a challenge, our existing consultants in this situation have discovered just the opposite – having another Duct Tape Consultant or two in their town actually made it easier to spread the word and share resources.
14. What are the on-going fees and royalties?
We have chosen to allow our consultants to remain completely independent and, while we are here to support them in any engagement that makes sense, we do not collect royalties or participate in their business decisions in any way.
In addition to the licensing fee expressed above each consultant also pays an ongoing training fee of $100/mo. for as long as they remain in the network.
15. What is the term of the contract?
Our licensing agreement is initially a three-year agreement, but both parties have the ability to end this agreement at any time for specifically stated reasons. Our long term goal is to build a network that we can be proud to bring into the very large business organizations, like Microsoft and Sage Software that come to use to work with their reseller channels. Our first job, however, is to make sure that our consultants are making money, growing with opportunity and representing our brand. If we do those things then both consultant and network will view our agreement as a mutually beneficial long-term relationship.
16. Are there guarantees?
Well no, and frankly if you run across any opportunity like this that makes claims of revenue or profit, be very suspicious. There are many factors involved in the success of a business and, while we’ve witnessed our consultants thriving using our system, most of the elements of your success reside within your own efforts, background and experience. Our consultants succeed at a rate far higher than the typical small business, but our job is to build your business with you, not for you!
17. Can I contact some existing Duct Tape Consultants?
You are certainly free to contact any consultant in our directory, however, while most of our consultants are enthusiastic supporters of our brand, they are independent business owners building and running their businesses, so take that into consideration when you contact them.
18. What is my next step if I’m interested?
Make sure that you have viewed both of our Overview movies. Once you do this you will be presented with a form that allows you to tell us more about yourself. From this step we will invite you to learn more about us and schedule a time for you to meet one of our Master Consultants for a tour of our products, processes and programs.
